I just saw a group of high school boys doing a long run together. Acceptable or Stupidity?

Teenagers often act stupidly and selfishly. I know I did at that age. They need to be called out on it. It increases risk in their community. Many hospital workers are risking their lives, working without adequate supplies of protective gear, to protect the community. Some of these people have small kids. Some are single parents. Some will die from this.

There’s an argument that the lockdown is too costly economically, sure. People are losing their jobs to save lives and to some it might not be worth the cost. That said, the lockdown is happening. When people and kids choose to ignore it, it doesn’t give people their jobs back; it only makes the lockdown less effective at saving lives.

In short more people will die and everyone still loses their jobs if you ignore the lockdown. That right there is stupidly selfish.

It is not a hardship, to run alone. Or, if you really must run in a group, space yourself out -- I don't run within 30 feet of another runner at this point. It is still fun to run spaced out.

life is a balance wrote:

Rhodium Nights wrote:

They're just high schoolers for goodness sakes. This kind of hysterical condemnation is so appalling. What were you doing when you were 15 years old??

Agreed. There has to be some balance between risk reduction and living life.

I think that if all a kid is doing outside of the house is occasionally running with 7 friends, they're doing their part to "flatten the curve." I don't think people should be congregating with dozens of other people regularly, but a small group run seems like a pretty justifiable risk to me.

You can never eliminate all risk from life, but you can sure make yourself miserable in the attempt.

I agree. Maybe it's hard for the introverts and shut-ins on here to empathize but the lockdown already takes a big mental toll on people. They've already had to sacrifice their track season.

reallybros.? wrote:

Per the title, I went on my long run today and I saw a group of about 8 guys also long running. They all looked high school age and were clustered in a tight knit pack. I live in a suburban area in a large Midwestern state. At this point, is this acceptable or just plain stupid? I feel like I should have said something but I kept my mouth shut and ran by them at a careful 6 feet distance.

Running in a group makes the exercise easier and more enjoyable, especially sharing with others.

If you don't have any friends available to run with, then run by yourself.

Exercising is very important. Not exercising at all would be stupid.

donairs wrote:

It is not a hardship, to run alone. Or, if you really must run in a group, space yourself out -- I don't run within 30 feet of another runner at this point. It is still fun to run spaced out.

It is a hardship to forgo all social connection for weeks at a time, especially for a teenager.

Definitely just stupidity at this point. Run all you want by yourself or with one other training partner if you must, but doing it in a tight-knit group of 8 is not a smart idea. I'm assuming this is Ohio because I have seen this kind of stuff still happening in my neighborhoods.

Nazis. Literal Nazis. Do any you drive over the speed limit? The will be more deaths and way more injuries this year from car crashes.

Rhodium Nights wrote:

oldfatrunner wrote:

Stupid and selfish.

They're just high schoolers for goodness sakes. This kind of hysterical condemnation is so appalling. What were you doing when you were 15 years old??

Yep, let them die right now.

Watch this if you think 15 year olds are safe:

life is a balance wrote:

donairs wrote:

It is not a hardship, to run alone. Or, if you really must run in a group, space yourself out -- I don't run within 30 feet of another runner at this point. It is still fun to run spaced out.

It is a hardship to forgo all social connection for weeks at a time, especially for a teenager.

I don't care. What part of the country is this? I WILL call the police on them.

dunes runner wrote:

Running in a group makes the exercise easier and more enjoyable, especially sharing with others.

If you don't have any friends available to run with, then run by yourself.

Exercising is very important. Not exercising at all would be stupid.

It’s very stupid and selfish.

It’s as simple as... one of the eight kids/families has the virus. After the run, the other 7 kids/families are now infected. Those 7 families go to the store, see others, and now 20 new families have it. Then 80. Then whatever. That’s how this spread happened and is happening.

I’ve been exercising more than ever. Alone. If you aren’t living with someone, you shouldn’t be seeing them.

Your kid wants to socialize? Zoom, FaceTime, or play Xbox with friends like every other teenager is doing.

No. It was stupid and selfish for the people to eat bad food and smoke and drink and not exercise. Nobody seemed to have a problem with all of the selfish unhealthy living but they sure are quick to want the healthy to give up their lives now so that those unhealthy people survive.

East Coast Elite wrote:

life is a balance wrote:

It is a hardship to forgo all social connection for weeks at a time, especially for a teenager.

I don't care. What part of the country is this? I WILL call the police on them.

I really hope this is sarcasm. The police would laugh if they got a call like this by the way, in major cities they're not even arresting people for shoplifting or property crimes anymore.

Rhodium Nights wrote:

East Coast Elite wrote:

I don't care. What part of the country is this? I WILL call the police on them.

I really hope this is sarcasm. The police would laugh if they got a call like this by the way, in major cities they're not even arresting people for shoplifting or property crimes anymore.

Not sarcasm. Not kidding. I want to know where they live. I have my cell phone in my hand.

A running club held an unofficial race in central park today.

Dril wrote:

There’s an argument that the lockdown is too costly economically, sure. People are losing their jobs to save lives and to some it might not be worth the cost. That said, the lockdown is happening. When people and kids choose to ignore it, it doesn’t give people their jobs back; it only makes the lockdown less effective at saving lives.

In short more people will die and everyone still loses their jobs if you ignore the lockdown. That right there is stupidly selfish.

There is also an argument that the lockdown is stupid because it prevents herd immunity from being developed.

Closing schools puts people in closer proximity (at home) with elderly people at risk.

The UK didn't close schools and they are doing just fine.

Regardless, I still find it appalling to see so many people castigating a small group of teenagers for running together. COVID is obviously serious but I think way too many people are falling prey to incredibly negative thinking and a doom and gloom outlook. FFS they are just KIDS

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote:

0/10 Until you answer how you know they were doing a long run.

My first thought when I saw the title was creepy stalking for at least 90 minutes.

Very good idea. Viruses don't like fresh air. Please educate yourselves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGC5sGdz4kg

the strong will survive